News flash: the babies born at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic are turning two! Their little lives have been marked with fear, stress, sadness . . . and, undeniably, also joy. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are joined by seven moms from our team sharing about their remarkable babies and this historic time they’ve entered the world. You’ll hear different perspectives on how real moms have handled situations like introducing their babies to other people, venturing out into the world, and the little moments that made them think, “Wow, this is a pandemic baby!” Even if you didn’t have a baby in the past two years, you’re sure to appreciate this reflective episode – the first in a two-part series – as we honor the hard and celebrate the specialness of pandemic babies. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Listen to our series on Pandemic Perspectives, and these related episodes: How Covid Complicates Parenting, Stage By Stage, and 10 Things We Love About Toddlers
• Check out all our episodes and blog posts about toddlers
• Read our Contributor Stacy’s birth story about having Pandemic Baby Nora on the side of a gravel road in Montana
• Contributor Emily’s blog post: “She Only Knows Pandemic Mommy”
• It’s almost time for a check-in on Our 2022 Intentions

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• Visit our website
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• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whether you’ve known them since they were babies or they’re part of a crew always hanging out at your house, there’s a special relationship that can form between you and kiddos that aren’t your own. In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah are chatting about the “mom vibe” we’re going for, little ways we adjust behavior (both kids’ AND ours), and what happens if a child isn’t a great fit for our fam. Meagan also shares what it’s like to cultivate meaningful connections with teenagers and grown nieces and nephews. So get comfy, and join us for this heartwarming episode . . . Meagan’s passing out blankies, and Sarah’s got the good snacks!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Listen to these related episodes: Other People’s Babies, Other Adults In Our Kids’ Lives, For The Love Of Cousins, and House Rules For Playdates
• Read our Contributor Katherine DeVries’s blog post, How To Make Mom Friends & Build Community As A New Parent

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• Visit our website
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Meagan’s current romance sitch is a topic we get questions about from curious listeners, so today we’re giving an update, beginning with the meet-cute to end all meet-cutes! Since then, it’s been more than a two-year journey (through Covid, no less!) as Eric has gone from a “Person You May Know” on Facebook to Meagan’s “Special Man Friend.” Sarah asks Meagan how they’re handling sticky stuff, like dating someone with kids, grown-up sleepovers, moving in together (or not), and sharing holidays. And Meagan shares what she loves about Eric and the common ground that connects them. Lest you think this episode is all about warm fuzzies, we also toss in a goodnatured Super Bowl rant and take a moment to figure out Meagan’s real age. This day-before-Valentine’s, More Than Mom episode is sure to put a smile on your face–and lend some hope and comfort to our dating-mom listeners. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Listen to these related episodes: Dating As A Divorced Mom and Dating & Romance (For Single Moms & Married Ones, Too!)
• Meagan first shared her divorce news in this episode: Self Care As Self Preservation and did a one-year-out divorce update in this episode: Meagan’s Divorce Update

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• Visit our website
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you feel like your grocery bill has been creeping up, you’re not crazy. Food prices have been rising for a while, and unlike other areas of your budget, groceries definitely fall solidly into the “need, not want” category. So how DO you spend less money on food when you’re feeding a family? In today’s episode, Meagan and Sarah get honest about the areas where our food spending starts to spiral out of control, as well as how we approach leftovers, generic products, pantry inventory, and family-favorite cheap-o dinners. We also share some smart tips from an actual budget expert (ahem, not us). Make sure you listen ’til the end to hear Meagan’s best tip! Join us. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Meagan references this article on food inflation
• We mention these recent episodes: Money Saving Ideas, Room By Room, A Week of Real-Life Dinners, Small Steps Toward Sustainability In The Kitchen
• Sarah thought the June Grocery Haul Challenge from The Financial Diet was fascinating
• Swipe through this IG post on food budgeting from @thebudgetmom
• This is what generic packaging used to look like!
• Don’t miss these related blog posts: These Resources Helped Me Start Budgeting by Sarah Limberg and Navigating Finances With Your Partner by Joanna Martin
• Check out all our episodes and blog posts on money and food

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mothers, in general, are experiencing pandemic-related isolation and stress; Black women, in particular, are in crisis. From access to fertility treatments and pregnancy support to delivery complications and postpartum health, disparities around race impact Black mothers throughout their lives. In our latest Voices episode, Meagan speaks with Monique Dozier, licensed therapist and founder of Journey to Genesis Mental Health Services. Monique shares the questions we should all be asking ourselves AND the specific actions we can take to stand hand-in-hand with communities of color. She also reminds us that educating children is an important step in creating a legacy of inclusivity, and shares some of the many joys of being a Black mother. We hope you’ll listen to this important episode. 

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Learn more and connect with Monique Dozier at Journey to Genesis
• Read more about the challenges facing black mothers: Birthing While Black: Examining America’s Black Maternal Health Crisis, The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Women of Color, Why COVID-19 is Hitting Black Women So Hard
• Monique mentioned how great representation is in entertainment such as Ada Twist, Scientist and Waffles + Mochi
• Listen to these related episodes: Loss, Hope & Healing: One Family’s Story Of Turning Grief Into Advocacy and Talking About Racism As A Family

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
• Sign up for our newsletter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With rising prices, many of us are looking for big and little ways to cut back on expenses and spend wisely in 2022. Being smart about when, where, and what you buy AND how you use it adds up to make a big difference in your bottom line. Meagan and Sarah are sharing their best, budget-friendly ideas for everything from clothing and toiletries to furniture and decor. Plus, they share a few times where taking the free advice of a professional helped them save big bucks . . . and Meagan talks about poopy laundry. (Gross, funny, but informative!) We’ll be chatting food and groceries next week, but for frugal tips on everything else, this is the episode for you. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Meagan finds good deals at TJ Maxx and saves money working CVS ExtraBucks
• We both genuinely love our pants from our sponsor Betabrand
• Sarah is a big fan of the laundry pods from our sponsor Public Goods (Use code MOMHOUR for $15 off!)
• Listen to our Voices episode: Spending, Saving, and Living Your Values with Natalie Taylor
• Read our Contributor Sarah Limberg’s blog post: These Resources Helped Me Start Budgeting
• Check out these custom podcast playlists Sarah created for our listeners: Carly’s Playlist (Family Values, Siblings, Routines & Hacks) and Jenny’s Playlist (Tweens, Teens, & Working Motherhood) 
• Check out all our episodes and blog posts on money

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
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• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A mom of four seeks advice on siblings who are like oil and water. Another listener asks Meagan and Sarah how to manage preschool-age brothers who are possessive with their toys. An exasperated mom is desperate for the secret to unlocking peaceful car rides. (Aren’t we all?) And finally, a mom with a new baby has an inkling it’s time to reign in the screen time with her older kids, but wonders how she’ll get anything done without it . . . and if her kids can fight through the boredom. Sibling dynamics pop up again and again in this latest batch of listener questions. If you’re a mom of multiple kids, you’re sure to relate. Join us!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Check out our most recent Listener Questions episode from last week
• These are some of our fave episodes about siblings from our archive: Raising Siblings Who Like Each Other, Birth Order, Siblings, and Families of Origin, 10 Things We Love About Raising Siblings
• We mention some smart solutions from our House Rules episodes on Sibling Harmony and Travel & Vacation. 
• Check out our Screen Time Strategies Through the Years
• All of our Listener Questions episodes can be found here

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
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• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Internet gets a bad rap – and sometimes (okay, a lot of the time), it’s justified. But as with most of the “controversial” topics we discuss, we think there’s room for complexity. In this More Than Mom episode, Meagan and Sarah share some of the positive outcomes from our online experiences, and how we’ve evolved as grownups and moms as the Internet itself has changed. We talk about the skills we’ve learned, the real-life friends we’ve met, and the things we never would have discovered otherwise! Plus, Meagan shares a screenshot of a wackadoo product with Sarah in real-time–and her reaction will have you clicking that link in our show notes at warp speed. This reflective episode is a little bit sweet (thanks to a lovely listener voicemail!) and a little bit funny. Enjoy!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• In our episode on #Influenced, we share some of the online-inspired stuff we’ve tried. 
• A cat tongue for humans actually exists. It’s called: Licki
• Read Sarah’s PSL-essay that was the impetus to connecting her with now-close friend Kelsey Wharton of the Girl Next Door Podcast
• Check out the blog post Baby Steps by our Contributor Sarah Limberg.
• Listener Sarah (the one who left that sweet voicesmail) has a podcast coming out soon. Check it out! Bloom Box: Growing Deeper

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young mom feels dismissed by older moms and authority figures, and also asks for our tips for managing a kid with a quirky obsession. A longtime listener asks Meagan and Sarah how to handle kids who have come to expect big fun all the time. A mom of a preschooler is stumped on how to respond to her little guy’s tall tales, fibs, and white lies–and how to sort fact from fiction. Finally, even though we haven’t been in her shoes, we encourage a twin mom who’s expecting triplets (yes, triplets!) and feeling nervous about about how she and her toddlers will cope. Join us for the latest installment of one of our favorite series–listener questions!

LINKS MENTIONED:

• All of our Listener Questions episodes can be found here
• We dig deeper into fibbing in this episode
• Are you a mom of multiples who wants to reach out to Victoria with a note of encouragement? Email us!

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

• Visit our website
• Check out deals from our partners
• Follow us on Instagram
• Join our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.